Trousers stretcher



- 1&78533 Dec 25 9 E9236 H. scHAFER TROUSERS STRETCHER Filed Jan. 22. 1921 Patents Dec. 25, 1923.

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TROUSERS STRETCHER.

Application filed January 22, 1921. .Serial No. 439,308.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HANs Sorrlirnn, a citizen of the German Republic, residing at Sulzheim, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements of the trousers stretchers of the type which comprise S-shaped springs between the stretching bars and which comprise further an adjustable distance piece made of two parts arranged between the lower ends of the bars and adapted to be locked together. With trousers stretchers of this type the shaped blade springs are fixed to the stretching bars and they are not under tension when the distance piece is unlocked. The trousers stretcher is nowuused in the following manner One of the stretching bars is first inserted in the trousersleg, the blade springs being not under tension, whereupon the second stretching bar is inserted until the two parts of the distance piece come in contact, whereupon, through the insertion of a pin fixed to the one half of the distance piece into the corresponding hole of the other half of the distance piece and through the lifting of the locking bar the trousers stretcher is adjusted according to the width of the trousers leg. lVhilst the-second stretching bar is being inserted it is pressed through the increasing action of the springs into the crease of the trousers leg and slides now along this crease. The cloth is worn rapidly through this sliding of the sharp edge bar along the crease, so that after frequent use of the stretchers the trousers cannot be used when having been turned as then the streaks would become visible. In consideration of the very high price of the cloth, the fact that the trousers are rapidly worn upon the inside through the insertion of the trousers stretcher is a great inconvenience. The trousers stretchers of the type mentioned are further diflicult to manipulate and theyare not practical in so far as the second half of the distance piece has to be connected with the first half ofthesame when the tension of the spring is greatest. This manipulation requires great practice as it happens frequently that the part of the distance piece to be connectedwith the part which has been inserted first slips out of the hand so that the grip of the hand is often not suflicient to properly connect the two parts of the distance piece and to overcome the strong tension of the spring which tends to push the second stretching bar out of the trousers leg. If the stretchers have to be removed from the trousers which are narrow at the foot end this is possible only after the distance piece has been disconnected.

All the inconveniences mentioned are obviated according to the present invention through the adjustable connection of the S- shaped blade springs with one of the stretching bars and through the use of a push rod in connection with the second half of the distance piece, the said push rod which has he b ng cont nuou y pushed as ically against a guide eye fitting into said notches.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I shall proceed to describe the same with reference to the example of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the trousers stretcher in the position which it adopts when the push rod is pulled out.

Fig. 2 shows the trousers stretcher in the position which it adopts when the push rod is pushed in.

Fig. 3 represents, on a larger scale, the peculiarconnection of the push rod with the pushing slide for the springs.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line AB of Fig. 3.

The improved trousers stretchers comprise the well known stretching bars a, a, blade springs b, b and the two parts 05, d. of the adjustable distance piece hingedly connected with the heads 0-, .c of the bars and adapted to be locked together by the locking hook The novelty of this trousers stretcher consists in the construction of the blade springs b, b which are fixed with one end to the stretching bar a. and with the other end to a pushing slide 9 guided upon the other stretching bar a" and further in the connec tion of this slide 9 with a push rod 2' which has several notches hi and which is continu ously pressed through the action of the blade spring (13' against a guide piece Z, said push rod having a suspension hook m at its free end by means of which the trousers stretchers with the trousers can be suspended in the wardrobe.

Another characteristic feature of the improved trousers stretcher consists in the re movable and secure connection between the push rod z and the free end of the blade spring 6' by means of a stud n, of the push rod engaging with a hole in the end of the blade spring 6. Another new'feature of the invention consists in an incision upon the outer surface of the stretching bar a and of a strengthening piece 1; of sheet metal fixed upon the inner surface of the stretching bar a opposite said incision 0.

The improved trousers stretcher is used in the following manner After the distance piece (5, d (Fig. 1) has ends the trousers stretcher is inserted into the trousers leg which is indicated in Fig. 2 indash and dot lines. As the blade springs are not in tension when the stretcher is being inserted and as said springs are not put under tension during the insertion, as is the case withthe trousers stretchers of similar type and of known construction the bars cannot wear off the cloth.

lVhen the stretcher has been inserted the push rod i is pushed up until its notch h engages with the eye Z. This operation does neither require practice nor skill and can be executed without any difficulty. 'In consequence of the upward movement of the slide 9, caused by the pushing in ofthe push-rod 2' the blade springs 12, b adopt their S-shape as shown in Fig. 2, and spread the bars gt, a

asunder but merely in a direction. transversely with regard to the trousers leg so that, even-at this moment, the cloth is not put under particular strain. If several notches are provided in the push bar the stretching of the trousers can be regulated.

As the blade springs b, b are situated between the upper ends of the stretching bars the upper bar a above the incision 0 is more strongly bent outward than the other part of said bar so that this bar a'is bent according to the curved shape of the trousers leg.

In order to remove the stretcher from the trousers leg it is merely necessary to pull out the push rod 2' in pushing the same simultaneously outward so that the bars a, a

adopt the position shown in Fig. 1. It is necessary to disconnect previously the twoparts of the distance piece d, 0?. r p

The material of the trousers does not suffer from the use of the improved trousers stretcher. The. manipulation of the trousers stretcher is very simple so that it may well be called a considerable improvement. with regard to the trousers stretchers. of known yp v bars,- two blade springsfixed with the upper ends to the inner surface of one of the stretching bars, a sliding piece guided upon the inner surface of the other stretching bar,

the other ends of said blade springs being fixed upon said sliding piece, a push r0 detachably fixed to the lower end of one of said blade springs and having a notch in one of its sides, and an eye fixed to the lower end of one of said stretching bars designed to guide said push rod and to engage with one of the notches.

' 2. An improved trousers stretcher comprising in combination with two stretching bars a distance piece composed of two parts connectin the lower ends of said stretching ba-rs two lade springs fixed with the upper ends to the inner surface of one of the stretching bars, a sliding piece guided upon the inner surface of the other stretching bar, the other ends of said blade springs being fixed upon'the sliding piece. a push rod having a hole at its upper end and a notch in one of. its sides, a pinlaterally projecting from the free end of the lower blade spring and engaging with said hole of the push rod. and an eye fixed to the lower end of one of said stretching bars designed to guide said push rod and to engage with one'of the said notches.

3. An improved trousers stretcher comprising in combination a stretching bar having an incision at'about the middle of its outer surface, a strengthening plate of bendable material fixed upon the inner surface of the said stretching bar opposite said incision, a second stretching bar, a distance piece composed of two parts connecting the lower ends of said stretching bars, two blade springs fixed with the upper ends to the inner surface of one of the stretching bars, a sliding piece guided upon the inner surface of the other stretching bar, the other ends of said blade springs being fixed upon said sliding piece, a push rod detachably fixed to the lower end of one of said blade springs and having notches in one of its sides, and an eye fixed to the lower end of one of said stretching bars designed to guide said push rod and to engage with one of the notches.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. f HANS SCHAFER.

Witnesses:

' J osnrri LIcKnNBERc,

THEODOR GEMPLINZE. 

